Alejandro (Julio Torres), an aspiring toy designer from El Salvador, must find a job in NYC before his work visa expires after getting fired. He bumps into Elizabeth (Tilda Swinton), an art curator, who hires him as her assistant. She happens to be the ex-wife of his former boss, Bobby (RZA).

       Writer/director Julio Torres understands that comedy is often rooted in tragedy. At its core, Problemista centers on a young man whose hopes and dreams are in danger of being crushed because of a flawed and unfair immigration system in the U.S. One small mistake at his job gets him fired and at risk of losing his work visa. He'll accept any job, so it's no wonder that he seizes the opportunity to work for Elizabeth when they first meet. She's eccentric, demanding and as hard to please as Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada. They mostly get along despite their differences in personality. The way she talks to a waiter, for example, makes her seem like a rude, insensitive narcissist. How did she end up so toxic? Problemista isn't very interesting in exploring that as much as it's interesting in showing Alejandro and Elizabeth evolving friendship and how she inspires him despite her absuive behavior. Perhaps the film is trying to say that it's a tough world out there, so you have to be thick-skinned and confident like Elizabeth to survive it. Alejandro seems like her doormat at first, but he gradually learns how to believe in himself. Their relationship doesn't quite hit the same heights as the relationship between Harold and Maude in Harold & Maude, but it's cut from the same cloth. Alejandro has a loving relationship with his mother who's in El Salvador which is shown through their phone conversations rather than through flashbacks. Fortunately, Julio Torres, in his directorial debut, is unafraid to take risks by including some surreal flourishes to the film that make it outrageously funny, unconventional and refreshing without any clunkiness or tonal unneveness. The film's minor flaw occurs at the very end when Alejandro says something to Elizabeth that means that perhaps he hasn't really changed that much after all.  

       Julio Torres gives a performance that's moving and grounded while being a great counterbalance for Tilda Swinton's over-the-top performance. With a less talented actress, Elizabeth could've easily turned into nothing more than an annoying caricature. To be fair, Elizabeth is annoying at times and not very likeable, but Swinton finds her humanity and gives her a few redeeming qualities that show Elizabeth's vulnerability ever so slightly. The costume design and hair & make-up design, especially for Elizabeth, is quite lively and stylish. There are also a few witty and trippy animation sequences. So, Problemista has both style and substance which is rare these days. At a running time of 1 hour and 38 minutes, it's funny, witty, poignant and refreshing.
  

Released by A24. Opens March 1st, 2024 in select theaters nationwide.

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